Exclusive Interview with Akkin – The Guitarist Collaborating with Japan’s Top Artists

Akkin, whose real name is Mauro Signorelli, is an Italian musician and session guitarist who has built an impressive career working across the Japanese music industry. After beginning as a solo artist releasing instrumental rock and metal music, he transitioned into session work in 2021 and has since contributed to numerous songs and albums by major Japanese artists.

His guitar playing can be heard on music connected to globally recognized anime titles such as Bocchi the Rock!, Chainsaw Man, Frieren, and most recently One Piece. Alongside his session career, Akkin continues to release his own music, including his latest instrumental track, Dawn.

Where are you from?

I come from a small town near Milan…

How long have you been making music?

I started playing at the age of sixteen, playing in various bands in the area, then starting my solo career and subsequently that of a session man.

How many songs /albums have you released to date?

I have released several singles and two albums as a soloist, all works in the rock, pop and instrumental genres. Being a guitarist, I had this desire to write songs that would let my six-string do the talking…

I subsequently entered the world of session men for the Asian market, participating in various albums and songs by artists such as AIMER, REONA, YUURI among the most famous and then also participating in albums by other lesser-known artists in which I also had the opportunity to be an arranger for some of them…

Can you tell us about your latest release and the background/inspirations behind it?

The song I participated in was “Never was Alone in This world” by Maki Otsuki and it ended up in the last episode of the anime One Piece, I took care of the acoustic guitar parts and it was an honor to be part of this entourage because in addition to having the privilege of working for an artist like Maki Otsuki I ended up playing for a very famous anime all over the world!

How have/did you end up in the music industry?

With a good dose of tenacity and above all luck because in addition to having a great passion for music and having invested a lot in these years I was lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time. It is not easy for a musician to become part of this world and when he succeeds he must know how to stay there.

What do you think of the music industry in 2020 when the coronavirus pandemic hit?

It has changed a lot not only because of the coronavirus but perhaps even before, because as I was saying, music has now become a non-essential instrument, everything has become liquid, flowing and there are no longer people who invest in this art as they could have in the past.

Who do you think is the most influential artist?

I couldn’t tell you who the most influential is, also because in recent years music has been increasingly relegated to the background, and the music that’s been coming out lately doesn’t convince me at all.

Who have you collaborated with so far in your career?

As I was saying, I have collaborated with many artists from Japan due to my work as a session man. I consider myself very lucky. Among the many with whom I have collaborated, there is one in particular that has continued for a long time: the singer Aimer, with whom I have been working for 5 years and with whom I have recorded some albums and some EPs…

How do you think you differ from other artists?

I consider myself more of a musician who puts himself at the service of others, rather than an artist, even if I have published several of my works, but I give priority to my role as a session musician which gratifies me much more.

Who Will you love to have a collaboration with?

Bryan Adams and Goo goo Dolls..

What was the first album you bought as an artist?

So far ,So good ,so what di Bryan Adams

What’s your favorite song at the moment?

There are no recent songs, as I said I remain anchored to the songs of the past

If you had to sell your music collection tomorrow, what album/track would you leave in your draw?

I have a lot of records at home and honestly I don’t know which ones to save…can’t I save them all???!!!

What is your favorite quote/saying?

Iris Goo Goo Dolls

What other hobbies or interests do you have?

I like reading or listening to good music…

Tell us more about your upcoming project or this new project?

I don’t have any solo projects at the moment, but I think I’ll continue to write and publish my own material in the future.

What’s in the pipeline after this project?

In the future I plan to work on many more albums as a session musician and maybe I’ll write some more of my own music.

Follow Akkin Online
Instagram
Song Mentioned